Duke University Researchers Develop Copper Nanowires for Solar Cells

A Duke University research team led by Benjamin Wiley, an assistant professor of chemistry, has revealed an easy way to mass produce copper nanowires. Wiley’s team published its findings in Advanced Materials.

Carbon nanowires are cheap and can be used in a range of devices, including flexible displays and thin-film solar cells. Wiley said that copper nanowires perform better compared to carbon nanotubes. They are also cheaper than nanowires made of silver. In addition, copper is abundant, making it a promising material.

Wiley and his students Aaron Rathmell and Stephen Bergin developed copper nanowires in a water-based solution. As the process is water-based and copper nanowires produced are flexible, the nanowires could be coated in a roll-to-roll production process that is highly efficient.

Wiley admitted that the process has to be improved before commercial production of the product can start. He added that the cost effectiveness of copper will attract venture capitalists and solar companies to the product.